Vernon L. McKinzie
May 28, 2026
Vernon L. McKinzie, of Emporia, Kansas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Emporia Presbyterian Manor in Emporia, Kansas, at the age of 89.
Vernon Leon McKinzie was born on September 22, 1936, in Bluejacket, Oklahoma, to G.W. “Dutch” and Katharine (Davis) McKinzie. His family later moved to Lane, Kansas, where he graduated from Lane High School. It was...
Diane Wade
Jun 17, 2026
Carolyn Diane Rusk Wade, 81, passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor. She was surrounded by her loving and caring family. She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters (Kathryn and Anna Rusk,) and brother (John Robert Rusk).
Diane was born on April 27, 1945, in Dallas, Texas, the daughter of John Cicero and...
Jake Barrett
Jul 15, 2026
Jake Barrett, 89, Emporia, Kansas, passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Jake was retired and had worked for the City of Emporia in the Street Department.
Private graveside services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery, Emporia, Kansas at a later date. Roberts-Blue-Barnett Funeral Home, Emporia, is in charge of arrangements
Scott Earl Sumpter
Jul 11, 2026
Scott Earl Sumpter of Americus, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. He was 46 years old and 21 days.
Scott was born on June 20, 1980, in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Lloyd Earl Sumpter and Marjory Kay Mustermann.
He is survived by his mother, Marjory (Robert) Scrivner of Americus; father,...
Colleen N Aakhus
Jul 10, 2026
Colleen N. Aakhus, 98, Emporia, Kansas, passed away at the University of Kansas
Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, on Friday, July 10, 2026.
Colleen Skeie was born in Winger, Minnesota on June 7, 1928, the daughter of Willie
and Nina (Nelson) Skeie. She married Orval Truman Aakhus in Winger on September
18, 1949. He died December 17, 2020. She is survived by daughters; Diane...
Sylvia Markowitz Koepke
Jul 8, 2026
Sylvia Markowitz Koepke, 90, Emporia, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor.
Sylvia Markowitz was born in Emporia, Kansas on November 8, 1935, the daughter of Leo and Gertrude (Lenninger) Markowitz. She married Charles R. “Dick” Koepke in Emporia on April 27, 1963. He died April 27, 2011. Sylvia is survived by nieces; Lea Markowitz...
Ken Powell
Jul 5, 2026
Ken Powell, 67, Emporia, Kansas, passed away Sunday July 5, 2026.
Ken was born in Newton, Kansas on October 24, 1958, the son of Donald and Ramona (Fitzpatrick) Powell, Sr. He married Carrie Lynn Andrews May 27, 1978 in Louisburg, Kansas. She survives him. Also surviving are daughter; Michelle Powell, Kansas City, Missouri, sons; Andrew Powell and wife Lupe, Dayton, Ohio,...
Carl Wayne Tanner
Jul 1, 2026
Carl Wayne Tanner of Emporia passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. He was 67 years old.
Carl was born on August 8, 1958, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Cecil Maurice Tanner and Marybob (Hedgecoke)Tanner.
He graduated from Hutchinson High School in 1976 and came to Emporia State University where he was known for his skills on the...
Evelyn N. Dix
Jun 29, 2026
Evelyn Nell Dix
February 16, 1947 - June 29, 2026
Evelyn passed away peacefully on Monday, June 29 in Emporia, Kansas at the age of 79. Born on February 16, 1947, the eighth child of twelve, Evelyn lived her life with positivity and committed to her family and work.
Evelyn was an involved grandmother to her grandchildren: Cody Dix (Alexandria), Sidney Smith (Kaleb),...
William "Bill" Smith
Jun 29, 2026
William E. “Bill” Smith, 83, of Americus, Kansas, passed away June 29,2026, surrounded by the love of his family. In his final weeks, he spent meaningful time with his daughters, Kim Glover (Ron) and Jenny Sheeley (Jason), and his cherished grandchildren, Haley and Juniper Glover, and Mikhayla and Liam Sheeley.
Bill was preceded in death by his beloved wife of over...
Lynda Gayle Hardesty
Jun 27, 2026
Lynda Gayle Hardesty of Emporia died on Saturday, June 27, 2026. She was 78.
Lynda was born on Christmas Day in 1947, the daughter of Andy and Ethel Torrens Fowler. She married Orval Van Hardesty on July 28, 1966, at the Lyon County Courthouse in Emporia.
Surviving family members include her husband Van of the home; daughters, Kerri (Kirk) Owen of Hartford,...
Martha Lois Bolz
Jun 25, 2026
Martha Lois Krueger Bolz, age 94, passed away on June 25, 2026, at the Emporia Presbyterian Manor.
Martha was born on April 14, 1932, in Eureka, Kansas, the daughter of Harry B. and Myrtle Irene Burke Krueger. She married Elmer J. Bolz on July 30, 1983.
Martha and Elmer found contentment in a simple life centered on their shared faith. Their greatest...
Rudolph David Drake
Jun 24, 2026
Rudolph David Drake of Emporia died on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at Newman Regional Health in Emporia. He was 75.
Rudy was born on September 19, 1950, in Emporia, Kansas, the son of Urie Aristide and Reva Mable Essex Drake. He married Karen Denise Beitz at Emporia. They later divorced.
Rudy will be deeply missed by surviving family members including his sons,...
Janice Utech
Jun 21, 2026
Janice Utech, 68, Emporia, Kansas, passed away at Stormont Vail Regional Medical Center, Topeka, Kansas on Sunday, June 21, 2026.
Janice Thiessen was born at Marion, Kansas on June 18, 1958, the daughter of Nick and Delna (Tillery) Thiessen. Jan married Michael Utech in Americus, Kansas on March 7, 1998. He survives. Other survivors include her sons, Nate Bowen, Emporia, Kansas,...
Francis (Gene) Harder
Jun 21, 2026
Francis Eugene (Gene) Harder of Emporia, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at his home. He was 92.
Gene was born on February 1, 1934, in North Lyon County, Kansas, the son of Fred E. and Ellen Hastings Harder. He married Jackuelyn White on June 5, 1955, in Allen, Kansas. They were married 71 years.
Surviving family...
Kenneth Dean Eccles
Jun 21, 2026
Kenneth Dean Eccles of Madison passed away on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at his home in Madison. He was 80.
Kenny was born on July 4, 1945, in Gridley, Kansas, the son of Perry and Betty Neely Eccles. He married Jeanette Rohr Ketcheside on January 1, 2000, in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, making their home in Berryville, Arkansas before moving back to...
Indulis "Indy" Dambro
Jun 20, 2026
Indulis “Indy” Dambro, 77, Emporia, Kansas passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2026 at Newman Regional Health in Emporia.
Indulis Dambro was born November 25, 1948 in the Displaced Persons Camp in Oldenburg, Germany. He was the son of Adolfs Ernst and Aina Z. (Vikmanis) Dambro. Indy married JoEllen Doxon December 30, 1971 at the First United Methodist Church, Omaha, Nebraska....
Consuelo "Connie" Roblez
Jun 20, 2026
Consuelo V. “Connie” Roblez, 92, of Emporia died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Flint Hills Care and Rehab Center, after complications from a fall.
Connie was born on May 6, 1934, in Jerome, Idaho, the daughter of Anita and Valente Villa. She moved to Emporia in August 1938, and was raised by her grandparents Jose...
Guy Robert Bacon
Jun 20, 2026
Guy Robert Bacon was born on February 21, 1944, in his home at Kahola Lake, Kansas. He passed away on June 20, 2026, at the age of 82.
Guy is survived by his wife Janece, of 30 years, and four children; Amy Bacon, Cindy (Jason) Bacon, Kevin (Shirley) McLeighton, Zina (Steve) Shepard, stepsons Marc Heinitz and Chris Heinitz, eight grandchildren, 19...
Harold L. Culver
Jun 19, 2026
Harold L. Culver of Emporia passed away Friday, June 19, 2026, at Presbyterian Manor. He was 95.
Harold L. Culver was born in Emporia, Kansas, the son of Clarence E. and Erma M. Culver, on March 30, 1931. He was raised in the Madison area and graduated from Madison High School in 1949. On June 10, 1951, he married Marjorie J....
